THE Federal Government has announced efforts to procure essential medicines to address the rising costs of medications and healthcare products.
Prof. Muhammad Ali Pate, the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, made this announcement on Thursday in Abuja during the observance of Universal Health Coverage (UHC) Day.
Pate explained that the three-year Presidential Initiative for Unlocking the Healthcare Value Chain was launched a year ago to save lives, alleviate physical and financial burdens, and promote health for all Nigerians.
“In the medium and long term, local production of pharmaceutical products and commodities will help lower costs and ensure availability within the country. This aligns with UHC’s objective of reducing the financial burden associated with health services,” he stated.
The minister emphasized that the government is implementing deliberate and well-considered measures to positively impact Nigeria’s economy while minimizing both physical and financial hardships, in line with UHC’s goal of reducing out-of-pocket healthcare expenses and preventing impoverishment due to medical costs.
Regarding health insurance, Prof. Pate noted that 2 million additional individuals have been enrolled, raising the total to 8 million insured lives.
“Our administration has increased health insurance enrollment by 14% as of the third quarter of 2024. This represents a significant addition of 2 million people to the insured population within less than a year. If we had enrolled 2 million lives annually since the scheme’s launch in 2005, we would have approximately 40 million Nigerians covered by health insurance today,” Pate remarked.
The minister also revealed that ₦45.9 billion has been disbursed through the Basic Health Care Provision Fund to help indigent and vulnerable Nigerians access medical care without upfront payments.
“The equity funds provided by State Governments support care for their most vulnerable residents. These funds complement social sector interventions aimed at these groups,” Pate added.
He further disclosed the government’s plan to purchase health insurance for target groups facing high premium costs.
“As of October 2024, we have successfully performed 879 obstetric fistula repairs across 19 centers in the country, with a goal of 2,500 by the end of the year. This initiative has restored the quality of life and dignity for our women,” he concluded.